Thank you all again for your kind reviews!
Responses for the first chapter of reviews:
koalared: I do believe you'll have to wait and see if I choose to rewrite history . . . (I absolutely hated it when Hephaistion passed away! I'm glad you like the story!
Queendel: Thanks! I love doing flashbacks for stories like these, and thismovie has much of Alexander's and Hephaistion's childhood a secret, so I thought I'd give them a backround. Thanks for reviewing.
guardqueen22: Thanks and watch for more chapters!
Baliansword: I know that I'm evil when it comes to harming Hephaistion, but I do enjoy it when Alexander comes to his rescue. It's true that they are soulmates, they belong together, and I'm willing to go over fates head to change some things. Thanks for the sweet review!
Moon71: I do believe that you can change fate if your heart is true enough, and I think Alexander will see this too . . .Grins Thanks for the review . . . I do love your work so I was happy to see that you upon many other magnificent authors had reviewed my story!
Elithraniel: Like I always say, an injured Hephaistion, is great Hephaistion! (Besides, Alexander must save his soulmate)
CoralDawn: Ecbatana hold many secrets, you never know what may happen within the safe haven. I'm glad you liked that line, I didn't even notice that it could hold a deeper meaning . . . I'll have to see about incorperating that into the story . . . Checks chapters
angstman: Thanks, and I'll see what I can do!
Thank you all again:
Enjoy Chapter Three:
Alexander awoke the next morning and realized that sleeping sitting up wasn't the best of decisions he had ever made due to the fact that his lower back was on fire. He grunted and shifted his body so he could watch his dear Hephaistion, but to his utter horror, the man was gone.
"Hephaistion?" Alexander called worriedly. He was at his feet quicker then two men on a rampage. The room was empty, so he would have no one telling him that his love had gone for a walk or some ludicrous lie. "Hephaistion where are you?" he shouted.
"Do not fret Alexander, I am merely gazing out upon the world beneath us," Hephaistion's soft voice flittered in from the area of the balcony.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Alexander rushed to the curtains that masked the view of outside and stepped onto the stone beside his Hephaistion. "What are you doing out here Hephaistion? You nearly scared me to death! Come inside before you catch your dea . . . Hephaistion, come inside you are far too weak to be out here," Alexander spoke grimly.
"Isn't it beautiful Alexander?" Hephaistion asked in childish wonderment. Every time he had ever stepped out onto this ledge, the sight before him had always left him breathless with the lights and the colors. Then every so often he'd trap thoughts of Alexander in his mind, such as how he looked . . . how he felt . . . how he sounded . . . and even how he tasted. "It reminds me of you. So beautiful. When you think you can take it and hold it within your grasp, you realize that it's far too great to ever dream of holding. Then there are those moments where I am too afraid to hold you, thinking that I may spoil your beauty . . ." Hephaistion babbled only to be cut off by his dear King.
"Don't say such things Hephaistion, for you can never spoil my beauty. If anything I would spoil yours," Alexander spoke truthfully. It was now that Alexander realized maybe Hephaistion was delusional; the man certainly was acting as if he was.
Hephaistion's condition was no better than it was a few hours or even a day ago. To put his friend's appearance lightly, Alexander thought Hephaistion looked like death warmed over. Gray skin, blue tinged lips, dark circles around the once vibrant eyes, accompanied with shivers that wracked the helpless body, and the figure was slimming incredibly quickly. Time was running thin.
"Do you remember Alexander? When we were boys after I horribly beat you at the wrestling tournament and you said you never wanted to see me again? That you'd rather give your heart to a woman than a cheater at the wrestling arts? I do. I remember when you pretended to fall in love with . . . what was her name again? Adara? Who knew that when you got me jealous that I'd find a woman to do the same for you? Oh now I remember, Adara and Calantha, both of them were such beautiful girls," Hephaistion smiled as he spoke.
"Aye, that I do remember Hephaistion. It was one of the most horrible months of my entire life," Alexander chuckled deeply at the particular memory Hephaistion had chosen to remember.
Flashback:
The shouts sounded so loudly it was hard to concentrate. The crowd was screaming one name, "Alexander! Alexander! Alexander!"
Naturally the fourteen-year-old Prince was competing against his lifetime friend Hephaistion. He was more than nervous for the fact that Hephaistion had a knack for showing no mercy. Now he wished that his other friends would have done they're best against him while they were training, because now he felt a smidgen unprepared.
"Nervous Alexander?" Hephaistion's cool voice flittered in beside him.
"Of course not Hephaistion, Princes don't get nervous," the blond boy exclaimed. He'd be damned if he let Hephaistion know that he was horrified to step out in the ring with the sun-bleached blond. It wasn't that he was afraid of being injured, it was that he was afraid of being embarrassed in front of his father and mother, not to mention the hundreds of citizens that were sitting jovially in they're seats.
"Now introducing, Prince Alexander!" a deep voice bellowed and the crowd erupted in screams, shouts, and declarations of his name.
Alexander took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the curtain that was effectively hiding where he stood. He raised his hands in a friendly gesture towards the crowd as they hollered and bellowed they're praise. His eyes instantly locked with his father's uninjured eye and he winced at the glare that the almighty King gave him.
"And now introducing his opponent, Hephaistion Amyntor." The bleach blond walked out from behind where Alexander was previously standing. He made his way to the center of the dirt graph and ignored the crowds loud booing.
Standing face to face, the boys bent they're bodies at the knees and gripped each other's shoulders. "Good fortune Prince Alexander," Hephaistion spoke. He hid a smile at the angry snicker Alexander gave him at the mention of the title, 'Prince'
"May the best wrestler win," Alexander clinched his teeth shut as he spoke the words.
"Oh, I intend to Alexander," Hephaistion jested before the loud bell sounded off and the boys were given permission to begin.
The two boys circled around each other as a hunter would do his prey. Alexander made the first move by rushing forward and twisting his legs underneath Hephaistion's.
The move caught the young sun-bleached blond by surprise, but he quickly got his momentum back and tipped Alexander off balance. The move worked and Alexander began tilting forward, giving Hephaistion the perfect angle to throw Alexander over his arched head; and he did so with grace and energy. The 'oomph' sound that Alexander gave as he contacted the ground made Hephaistion's win all the more sweet.
"The winner!" the announcer called as he lifted Hephaistion's right arm into the air. To Hephaistion's surprise the crowd cheered for him, and called his name, so he nodded and turned around to see if his dear Alexander was alright. When he realized that the young Prince had fled, he wrenched his arm free to go and find him.
Hephaistion knew to go and check Alexander's room; the boy had often hidden himself there when he was in a foul mood. "Alexander?" Hephaistion asked after he knocked on the door and received now answer. He heard the sniffled come from inside and knew he had found the Prince. "Alexander open the door," the young boy begged.
"Go away," the muffled reply spoke deeply. "I wish to be alone."
Hephaistion rolled his eyes as he had done so many times in the past and pushed on the door, and was surprised to find it unlocked, and nothing barricading the door closed. "Alexander," Hephaistion scolded, "Do not hide yourself away from the world, it was only a wrestling match."
"Oh what would you know Hephaistion," Alexander blared as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Everyone saw . . . everyone knows I'm weak now. Did you see the look on my fathers face when I lost? The disappointment! Did you see my mothers face? Did you see the look of disapproval on her face too?"
Hephaistion rushed to his friend's side hoping to comfort him, but Alexander pushed him away then pointing to the door yelled, "Get out Hephaistion, this is all your fault, I should have known better than to give my heart away to a . . . a boy, I am better off with a woman, a beautiful woman Hephaistion. I never want to see you again! Get out!"
The sun-bleached blond could swear that he heard his heart shatter with the hateful words Alexander had just testified to. "Alexander . . ." Hephaistion began.
"Get out Hephaistion! Don't you get it? I don't love you anymore, leave my sight!" Alexander screamed as he grabbed Hephaistion by the arm and threw him towards the open door. He shoved the horrified blue eyed boy out the opening and slammed the door shut.
As tears trailed down Hephaistion's cheeks, and he stared at the closed door with venom, he vowed to never love a man again especially one named Alexander. "If that is what you wish Alexander then you can have yourself a woman, but I will not stand by and be alone in my grief, for I will too find a woman," Hephaistion whispered to the closed door.
Two evenings later:
Hephaistion had only seen Alexander at the lessons with Aristotle, and he was thankful for that. He had been informed that Alexander had been spending a lot of his time after the wrestling tournament with a beautiful young girl named Adara.
With gorgeous strait black hair, and startling honey colored eyes who would reject her? Well Alexander had done so in the past. He'd given her excuses so he and Hephaistion could hide away together, but now he was returning her advances. But Hephaistion refused to be bitter, he'd just be by himself for a while . . . maybe for all eternity.
He'd spent his day with Aristotle, trying to forget how cold Alexander was, and how he had left a gaping hole in his heart. The feast for his success at the tournament was tonight, and he still had no woman to escort to the dining hall. He knew he could not go if he had no one to chauffeur and parade around. Alexander had enjoyed making him jealous and he would not let that happen tonight. The Prince would have Adara on his arm, they would most likely be all over each other . . . he simply could not watch it happen without having a reinforcement.
"Hephaistion, he'll get over it soon enough!" Aristotle assured. He knew the look of utter desperation on the young blondes face. "But since it seems that Alexander will hold on to this for longer than expected, I have found someone for you to escort tonight."
Hephaistion gaped at the man in shock. What was the old man's view of beautiful was probably the most hideous girl in the world compared to Adara. He stopped himself when he realized the words he had just spoken. What is wrong with you Hephaistion? You've never cared about looks, women are beautiful in they're own way if not frontal or physical. "Really Aristotle?" Hephaistion asked in mild interest.
"Come here Calantha," Aristotle called. A young woman with flowing blond hair walked out onto the patio towards the teacher and student. She bowed respectfully to Aristotle, and then lifted her head for Hephaistion to see her face.
Hephaistion smiled at her when she blushed. She was beautiful, with dimmed blue eyes and a light face. "Hello Calantha," Hephaistion greeted as he stuck out his hand for her to take. When he took her hand in his, the young woman smiled. "Would you mind accompanying me to the feast tonight?" he asked hopefully.
"I would love to," Calantha accepted. "Would you mind escorting me on a walk?" she asked hopefully. She would never admit it to Hephaistion, but she had had a crush on him for many years. His beautiful eyes, lovely hair, broad shoulders, bright smile, accompanied his intellectual and sweet attitude warmed her heart many times.
Hephaistion accepted her offer with a small nod. Maybe this won't be so bad, he thought happily. She does seem . . . intriguing.
The feast:
Hephaistion walked into the large room with the lovely Calantha on his arm. He'd never imagined for a woman to be so . . . smart. On they're walk into the groves; the two had shared numerous conversations about life, love, and everything in between.
His heart fluttered at the look of shock that shone clearly on Alexander's handsome face when he and Calantha had been introduced to the room. He looked absolutely handsome in his pleated chiton. Adara was at the Princes side clinging to him as if he would dissolve into nothing. It bothered Hephaistion, he still deeply loved Alexander but his heart had been shattered by the Prince, and the only man he thought he could fully trust.
"Come Hephaistion," Calantha said as she pulled him to they're assigned seats. Unfortunately they're seat were right next to Alexander and Adara. Hephaistion reluctantly took his seat next to Adara, and Calantha sat on his right. Boy, girl, boy, girl, was the order of the room.
"Hephaistion, I am so excited for our romantic picnic tomorrow," Calantha bellowed loudly for all the other girls who favored Hephaistion to hear. She knew there was competition, and she'd fight for Hephaistion.
"As well as I," Hephaistion blushed. He did not want anyone to know about the two's plans for the next afternoon. He glanced up to see Alexander's friends giving him looks of confusion at his sudden interest in someone other than Alexander.
The night went on without a hitch. Everyone seemed to be merry in they're indulgence of heavily diluted wine, while others were basking in the taste of strong potent wine. Hephaistion himself had decided to indulge himself in the stronger wine, and the fact that Alexander wasn't even drinking from his flask. He had chosen to stay sober throughout the night? That wasn't like him, Hephaistion thought.
Before he could stop himself, Hephaistion had indulged fully within the wine, drinking until too intoxicated to walk. "Ooops," he giggled as he fell once again on the journey back to his room. Calantha sighed and lifted him back onto his feet, placing her hands around his torso to prevent another meeting of the floor. She was intending on spending the night with him.
"I'll take him from here," Alexander spoke from behind her. He'd seen Hephaistion's contact with the ground and sighed. When his . . . 'friend' had entered the dining hall with the young woman, he had felt a stab of jealousy, and it had not gone away during the night as he watched the girl caress him and fondle him. He had considered driving himself into a drinking binge to drown out the sorrow, but had held back just in case he was needed to stop this 'Calantha' from taking his Hephaistion to bed.
"That's quite alright my Prince, it's not much further," Calantha told him. When a sudden dead weight fell into her arms she looked to Hephaistion and saw that he had passed out in her arms. "Oh my, it seems that he has had a little too much to drink tonight."
Alexander stepped forward and picked Hephaistion up like a child. Hephaistion hated it when Alexander had done this to him so many times in the past. "I will drag his carcass back to his room," Alexander told her fiercely. He was not going to let this girl take Hephaistion back to his room, gods only know what she'd do to him while he was awake, but he was completely vulnerable while passed out.
Calantha bowed politely and walked away.
After situating Hephaistion on the bed he sighed and watched the peaceful expression Hephaistion's face held. "Oh Hephaistion, I don't know what to do without you," he whispered. "Maybe you really have fallen out of love with me," he spoke again as he brushed his fingers across Hephaistion's cheek.
TBC . . . (Next chapter includes Alexander's night of watching over his Hephaistion while in his drunken stupor)
Responses for Chapter Two:
Baliansword: I think that it's part of Alexander's charm to refuse to let Hephaistion go, so I'm glad that you caught that : D I hoped you liked this chapters flashback scene as well! Thanks for the review!
CoralDawn: The thirdchapter does have a little of Ecabanta, though it does not mention specifically. And thanks for thesweet review!
Queendel: I love the two stubborn men (part of they're appeal I suppose) I'll see if I can convince fate to let Hephaistion slide Grins evily I'm really glad that you liked King Phillip, I was kinda worried that he was out of character . . . it's just that I haven't seen many stories where he actually cares! Thanks for your review!
guardqueen22: Thanks! I thought it would fit, ya know Zues being the suspected father of Alexander (you have to have a little of the gods in a story right? he he he) I thought the title 'terrible twosome' fit the boy's well too! Thanks for the review!
Thanks all! Stay tuned for Chapter four!
